I cooked up a pot of Thai purple sticky rice that had been lingering in the pantry, and then decided how I would turn it into a meal. It was too sticky to use for stir-fried rice so I made stir-fried vegetables and oven-baked tofu, and served up rice bowls topped with both. I thought it might be an altogether too purple meal, but it was quickly devoured, and we are all the more anti-oxidant rich because of the anthocyanins in the red and purple foods.

Preparation

Make the baked tofu: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line a sheet pan with parchment. Pat the tofu dry with paper towels and cut into dominoes, about 1/3 inch thick. In a large, wide bowl whisk together all of the marinade ingredients for the tofu. Pat each square of tofu with paper towels, then dip into the marinade, making sure to coat both sides. Transfer to the baking sheet. Bake for 7 to 10 minutes, until the edges are just beginning to color and the marinade sets on the surface of the tofu. Remove from the heat and keep warm while you stir-fry the vegetables.

Make sure your rice is warm before beginning the stir-fry. In a small bowl or measuring cup combine the soy sauce, wine vinegar, agave nectar or sugar, water or broth, and cornstarch. Mix together well. Have all the ingredients within arm’s length of your pan.

Heat a 14-inch flat-bottomed wok or 12-inch steel skillet over high heat until a drop of water evaporates within a second or two when added to the pan. Swirl in the oil by adding it to the sides of the pan and swirling the pan, then add the garlic and ginger and stir-fry for no more than 10 seconds. Add the red pepper and stir-fry for 1 minute. Add the cabbage and sprinkle with salt. Stir-fry for 1 to 2 minutes, until the vegetables begin to wilt. Stir the sweet and sour mixture and swirl it into the wok. Stir-fry 15 to 20 seconds, then cover and cook 30 seconds. Uncover and stir-fry 1 minute, or until the vegetables are crisp-tender.

Tip

Advance preparation: The baked marinated tofu will keep for a couple of days in the refrigerator. Cooked rice will keep for about 3 days in the refrigerator. The stir-fry is last-minute.

Hungry for more recipes?

Get recipes, tips and special offers in your inbox. Opt out or contact us anytime.

Add a Non-NYT Recipe

Let's Get Started

Prior to receiving The New Essentials of French Cooking for free, please confirm your email address below.

Prior to your purchase of The New Essentials of French Cooking for $1.99, please confirm your email address below.

Prior to your purchase of The New Essentials of French Cooking for $4.99, please confirm your email address below.

Prior to your purchase of The New Essentials of French Cooking for $9.99, please confirm your email address below.

An error has occurred. Please try again.

Merci

You now have full access to The New Essentials of French Cooking. We've saved the recipes from this guide to your Recipe Box for easy access anytime you visit.

As appreciation for your interest, we're giving you free, unlimited access to The New Essentials of French Cooking. We've saved the recipes from this guide to your Recipe Box for easy access anytime you visit.

As appreciation for your interest, we're giving you free, unlimited access to The New Essentials of French Cooking. We've saved the recipes from this guide to your Recipe Box for easy access anytime you visit.

As appreciation for your interest, we're giving you free, unlimited access to The New Essentials of French Cooking. We've saved the recipes from this guide to your Recipe Box for easy access anytime you visit.